Dutch cricketers bounce back with brilliant win over Namibia
Published at 19 February, 2024After the disappointing performance against Nepal, the Dutch men showed a completely different side of themselves on Monday in the encounter with Namibia. The Africans were bowled out for 123, Aryan Dutt taking 6-34. The Netherlands went past Namibia's score without any problems, Michael Levitt top scoring with 57.
With Van der Merwe and Nidamanuru coming in for Shariz and Barresi, the Netherlands made an alert impression from ball one. Viv Kingma was ‘on the money’ and close to a wicket. Opener Niko Davin has an issue with balls on his legs and Max O'Dowd helped Kyle Klein to his first ODI wicket with a sharp catch at short mid wicket (20/1).
Aryan Dutt got Michael van Lingen LBW with his second ball, JP Kotzé with a beauty with his sixth and Jan Frylinck with his ninth: three lefthanders who had no answer to the skidding offspinners.
Righthander Gerhard Erasmus became Dutt’s fourth victim; this time, Engelbrecht took the catch at short mid wicket (44/5). Jan-Nicol Loftie-Eaton (also a lefthander) stayed just long enough for the commentators to pronounce his full name, before Dutt cleaned him up with a great armball.
Trumpelmann (20) brought Namibia past 100, but 123 was the poor end result. Dutt 6-34, Kyle Klein 2-21, Van der Merwe 1-36 in ten overs, Kingma and De Leede ultra-economical, but wicketless.
Innings Netherlands
Michael Levitt redeemed himself for his somewhat unfortunate duck in his debut against Nepal. On the pitch-with-instruction manual, he had to work hard for his first ODI 50. Together with Max O'Dowd (28), Levitt made 78 for the first wicket.
Levitt (57) was dismissed (ct Frylinck on long on, 101/3) but Edwards and De Leede - despite adventurous running at times - got the job done. Also on the Namibian side, spin took the wickets: Gerhard Erasmus 3-23.
WCL2 offers the prospect of World Cup participation in 2027
The matches that the Dutch are currently playing in Nepal are part of the ICC Men's Cricket World Cup League 2. Between 2024 and 2027, the Netherlands will play a large number of One Day Internationals. The best countries from these will participate in a Global Qualifier at the end of the series, which offers the prospect of participating in the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup in 2027.
All WCL2 matches can be followed live free of charge via ICC TV.
